Report: BBC Music Introducing Live 2018 Highlights

Words: Saam Das

BBC Music Introducing Live returns to Tobacco Dock in East London this week with its host of insider events led by artists and music industry professionals providing a behind-the-scenes look at making it in the music world. We popped along last year and have just found our notes from our experience of Introducing Live 2018.

Event Review: Dummy AGM 2013

Dummy AGM 2013 (28-29 Sept '13, London Fields Brewery) // Words: Saam Das

You're probably familiar with Dummy, the digital magazine/site that began back in 2005, with a current mission statement to cover 21st century pop music. The Dummy AGM was the first event of its kind for the team, collecting some of their favourite musicians in East London, including the likes of Brolin and Woman's Hour. Here's our rundown of the event.

Event Review: 'No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields Of Sri Lanka' London Premiere + Q&A

'No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields Of Sri Lanka' (5 Sept '13, Curzon Soho) // Words: Saam Das

Director Callum Macrae delivered two acclaimed Channel 4 TV documentaries on the Sri Lankan civil war before crafting 'No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields Of Sri Lanka'. The new documentary is a harrowing feature-length offering of the collateral damage of the Sri Lankan goverment's bitter fight with the LTTE (otherwise known as the Tamil Tigers) - a bloody civil war that has left accusations of war crimes at the feet of those still in power in Sri Lanka.

Event Review: Penguins 3D + Sir David Attenborough Q&A @ Science Museum

'Penguins 3D' screening + Sir David Attenborough Q&A (14 Aug '13, Science Museum) // Words: Saam Das

Sir David Attenborough has quite the naturalist pedigree but his greatest work has been in the field of broadcasting. Not content with developing traditional documentary, this effort turns his eye to 3D cinema - or more precisely, IMAX 3D cinema, fully immersing us into the world of South Georgia's penguin population. The added bonus of our 'Penguins 3D' screening? A post-film chat with Sir Attenborough himself, as vibrant as ever despite his advancing years.

Event Review: It Came From Outer Space @ Royal Observatory Greenwich

'It Came From Outer Space' (1953) film screening and talk at Royal Observatory Greenwich (18 July '13) // Words: Saam Das

Greenwich Park is looking particularly splendid during this unusually sunkissed summer, and visiting the Royal Observatory for their Alien Season is as good an excuse as any for a walk through the park. We've already seen the classic 'War Of The Worlds' in the Planetarium at the ROG, and we now follow it with another classic, 'It Came From Outer Space' - itself followed by an interesting talk on the possibility of alien existence.

Event Review: War Of The Worlds @ Royal Observatory Greenwich

'War Of The Worlds' (1953) film screening and talk at Royal Observatory Greenwich // Words: Maxamillian John

The Royal Observatory Greenwich continued their Alien Season with a screening of Byron Haskin's 'War Of The Worlds' from 1953. Not what you'd call a close adaptation, it appends a religious theme onto Wells' original novel and moves the action from Victorian Britain to 1950s California.

Event Review: Game Of Thrones Season Three Premiere @ One Marylebone

'Game Of Thrones' Season Three London premiere @ One Marylebone, London (26 March '13) // Words: Olivia Paolucci

Winter has well and truly visited London recently, but there couldn’t have been a better way to warm up than in a room full of 'Game Of Thrones' fans, with an early preview screening of the new series premiere. Here are some thoughts on the evening and 'Valar Dohaeris', minus spoilers.

Event Review: Jiro Dreams Of Sushi @ Oval Space

'Jiro Dreams Of Sushi' (2011) screening at Oval Space, London (19 March '13) // Words: Saam Das

Somewhere deep in the heart of East London lies Oval Space, a somewhat unique arts venue onlooking gas holders. They host a regular Cinema Club and we popped down to the latest edition, featuring the tremendously acclaimed documentary, 'Jiro Dreams Of Sushi'. The night didn't disappoint.

Exhibition Review: Hollywood Costume @ V&A

Hollywood Costume exhibition at Victoria & Albert Museum, London // Words: Saam Das

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London proclaims itself to be "the world's greatest museum of art and design". Quite frankly, that's a little pompous for my tastes but their excellent ongoing Hollywood Costume exhibition lends some credence to that tag. Aptly portraying costume design as an integral part of the filmmaking process, its popularity has undoubtedly been driven by its fantastic array of movie costumes - including Dorothy from 'The Wizard Of Oz' to Spider-Man, by way of Darth Vader.

Event Review: The Random Adventures Of Brandon Generator @ Farmiloe Building

'The Random Adventures Of Brandon Generator' @ Farmiloe Building, London (11 July '12) // Words: Saam Das

Illustrator Tommy Lee Edwards combined with acclaimed writer-director Edgar Wright on a four part crowd-sourced web series entitled 'The Random Adventures Of Brandon Generator' which saw its final part premiere in London last Wednesday at the intriguing Farmiloe Building in Farringdon. A thoroughly enjoyable evening, complete with art from the series as well as a Mark Kermode-led Q+A.

Event Review: Life Is Sweet @ Rooftop Film Club

'Life Is Sweet' (1991) at Rooftop Film Club (Queen Of Hoxton, 3 July '12) // Words: Alison Potter

Not letting the rubbish summer drizzle rain on their parade, the Rooftop Film Club hosted a special screening of Mike Leigh’s celebrated 'Life Is Sweet', chosen by Lauren Laverne, the evening’s host. As the ‘AMEX Entertainment Insider’, Laverne will be getting a backstage look at a range of London-centric film, music and food events supported by the American Express Preferred Seating programme line-up, kicking off with this event.

Festival Review: Sundance London 2012

Sundance London (The O2, 26-29 April '12) // Words: Saam Das

The inaugural Sundance London music and film festival came to a close this weekend. Making its first international voyage from its American base in Utah, Sundance failed to inspire our weather into appropriate action but certainly inspired me with its excellent selection of films and music at reasonably affordable prices for all. Below, you can find a quick run through of what we caught at the festival.

Month In Reviews: March 2012

FG album reviews, live reviews, current film reviews and DVD release reviews from March all handily indexed for your reading pleasure below.

Event Review: The Princess Bride @ The Prince Charles Cinema

'The Princess Bride' quote-a-long screening at The Prince Charles Cinema, London (24 March '12) // Words: Saam Das // Photos: The Prince Charles Cinema

Not only is The Prince Charles Cinema probably my favourite film viewing establishment in London but 'The Princess Bride' is also one of my most loved films - making this "quote-a-long" screening almost destined for success. I imagine most of those attending felt similarly. It certainly proved to be a tremendously enjoyable experience for an eager audience, many of whom hadn't had the opportunity to see 'The Princess Bride' on the big screen.

Event Review: Silent Opera - La Boheme [VAULT Festival 2012]

La Bohème by Silent Opera at VAULT (24 Feb '12, Waterloo) // Words: Gabriella Shimeld-Fenn

At a silent disco, revellers hear the music via individual wireless headphones. The idea of transferring this concept for use in live theatre performances seems so obvious once you think about it, but it seems that Silent Opera have been the first to catch onto the potential in this method for the more immersive and site-specific productions, like their promenade La Bohème at VAULT Festival.

Event Review: Let Me In [VAULT Festival 2012]

'Let Me In' screening at VAULT (24 Feb '12, Waterloo) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

'Let Me In' – the 2010 American adaptation of Swedish novel 'Låt den rätte komma in' by John Ajvide Lindqvist – was the last in the series of Hammer film screenings presented by The Flicker Club at the VAULT Festival, and I was fortunate enough to attend this portentous occasion in the atmospheric setting of the Old Vic tunnels.

Event Review: Eye Saw Theatre - Excellent Choice [VAULT Festival 2012]

'Excellent Choice' at VAULT (26 Feb '12, Waterloo) // Words: Gabriella Shimeld-Fenn

Eye Saw state that their goal is to “produce insightful yet fierce entertainment within a realistic framework”, and in Rob Hayes’ 'Excellent Choice' they have definitely succeeded. At only a mere half an hour long and using just two actors, this is a perfect example of a short play done right, and is great entertainment from start to finish.

Event Review: Mardi Gras [VAULT Festival 2012]

'Mardi Gras' at VAULT (24 Feb '12, Waterloo) // Words: Raman K

The VAULT Festival “Lates” series concluded with 'Mardi Gras', a recreation of a New Orleans bar experience, tucked away in the Old Vic Tunnels of Souf Laandan. The night was hosted by the Brass Volcanoes, a band of lads with a passion for bombastic saxophones, trumpets, trombones and the like. Unfortunately, despite being paying homage to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras vibes, they fell pretty short of the talent and richness of the regional musical heritage.

Event Review: Descent [VAULT Festival 2012]

'Descent' live at VAULT (17 Feb '12, Waterloo) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn // Photos: viveashphotography.co.uk

Created by London-based theatre company OTB Productions, 'Descent' is an exciting showcase of new writing that aims to provide a platform for “young, undiscovered voices”. I went down to the VAULT Festival on 17th February at the Old Vic Tunnels to find out what these voices were saying, and discovered a few promising gems.

Event Review: Videopia [VAULT Festival 2012]

Videopia at VAULT Festival, London (10 Feb '12) // Words: Raman K

The “Lates” programme of live music and concept clubs at VAULT Festival kicked off with Videopia on 10th February at the Old Vic Tunnels. I’ll do my best to explain Videopia, but I’m unlikely to do it justice. Imagine a montage of your favourite moments from cinema history - Gene Kelly swaggering down the street before ditching his brolly to sing in the rain, Sam and Frodo destroying the ring in Mordor, John Travolta and Uma Thurman twisting up a hurricane on the dancefloor in 'Pulp Fiction'.